# Greg Oden

> American basketball player

**Wikidata**: [Q313487](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313487)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Oden)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/greg-oden

## Summary
Greg Oden is an American professional basketball player born on January 22, 1988, best known for being selected as the first overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Despite a promising collegiate career at Ohio State University, his NBA tenure was marked by injuries that limited his playing time. Oden played for the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat before retiring in 2016.

## Biography
- **Born**: January 22, 1988  
- **Nationality**: United States  
- **Education**: Ohio State University (2005–2007)  
- **Known for**: 2007 NBA first overall draft pick  
- **Employer(s)**: Portland Trail Blazers (2007–2012), Miami Heat (2013–2014)  
- **Field(s)**: Basketball  

## Contributions
- Selected as the **first overall pick** in the 2007 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.  
- Led Ohio State University to the **2007 NCAA Championship Game**, earning **Big Ten Player of the Year** and **Consensus First-Team All-American** honors.  
- Played 82 total NBA games across seven seasons due to recurring knee injuries.  

## FAQs
**Q: Where did Greg Oden play college basketball?**  
A: Oden played for Ohio State University from 2005 to 2007, leading the Buckeyes to the 2007 NCAA Championship Game.  

**Q: What teams did Greg Oden play for in the NBA?**  
A: Oden was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers (2007–2012) and later played for the Miami Heat (2013–2014).  

**Q: Why was Greg Oden’s NBA career cut short?**  
A: Oden’s career was significantly impacted by multiple knee injuries, including microfracture surgeries, which limited him to 82 games over seven seasons.  

**Q: What were Greg Oden’s notable collegiate achievements?**  
A: Oden was named the 2007 Big Ten Player of the Year, Consensus First-Team All-American, and led Ohio State to the NCAA Final Four.  

## Why They Matter
Greg Oden’s career serves as a pivotal case study in the challenges of athlete durability in professional sports. As the 2007 NBA draft’s top prospect, his trajectory highlighted the high expectations placed on young athletes and the unpredictability of injury impacts. Despite his limited NBA tenure, Oden’s collegiate dominance at Ohio State influenced the program’s reputation and underscored his potential as a generational talent. His story remains a reference point in discussions about draft evaluation, medical risk assessment, and player resilience.

## Notable For
- **2007 NBA first overall draft pick** (Portland Trail Blazers).  
- **2007 NCAA Final Four** appearance with Ohio State University.  
- **Big Ten Player of the Year** (2007).  
- **Consensus First-Team All-American** (2007).  
- Notable example of career-limiting injuries in professional sports.  

## Body
### Early Life and Education  
Greg Oden was born on January 22, 1988, in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He attended Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he established himself as a top national recruit. Oden enrolled at Ohio State University in 2005, playing two seasons for the Buckeyes. During his freshman year (2006–2007), he led the team to the NCAA Championship Game, averaging 15.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks per game. His performance earned him **Big Ten Player of the Year** and **Consensus First-Team All-American** honors.

### Professional Career  
Oden declared for the 2007 NBA draft and was selected first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. However, his rookie season was delayed due to a preseason knee injury requiring microfracture surgery. Over six seasons with the Trail Blazers (2007–2012), he played only 82 games, averaging 8.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Oden signed with the Miami Heat in 2013 but appeared in just 23 games over two seasons before retiring in 2016.

### Career Challenges  
Oden’s NBA career was defined by recurring knee injuries, including three microfracture surgeries. These setbacks limited his playing time and effectiveness, contributing to his early retirement at age 28. His story is frequently cited in analyses of draft risks and athlete health management.

### Legacy  
Despite his abbreviated NBA career, Oden remains a notable figure in basketball history. His collegiate achievements at Ohio State and status as a No. 1 draft pick contrast sharply with his professional struggles, making him a symbol of the fragility of athletic potential. Oden’s resilience in the face of repeated injuries has inspired discussions about mental health and post-sports career transitions.

## References

1. FIBA database
2. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
3. RealGM
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Quora